Leak-stopper for boiler-tubes.



No. 7|4,67I. Y l Patented De'c. 2, i902. v C. CLARK. j

LEAK STOPPER FDR BOILER TUBES. (Application filed Jan. 6, 1902.) (nu Model.)

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* UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

CORNELIUS S. CLARK, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

:..LEAK-s'roPPER FOR BOILER-TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,671, dated December 2, 1902.

Application iiled January 6| 1902. Serial No. 88,609. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS S. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing atNorfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Leak Stoppers for Boiler- Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to leak-Stoppers for boiler-tubes, the object of the same being to provide novel means whereby a broken or leaky boiler-tube may be repaired without throwing the same out of'operation.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of this class of devices and to provide a leak-stopper-which may be readily and quickly applied to a leaky or broken tube and which when applied will lie in close contact with the inner surfaces of the unbroken portions of the tube and furnishan imperforate supplemental passage therethrough.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and that which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing my improved stopper applied to a leaky boiler-tube. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the head-sections and the parts connected therewith, showing the same before its application to the boiler-tube; and Fig.

4. is aside elevation of the head-section shown in Fig. 3.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The body 1 of my improved leak-stopper is tubular in form and preferably made in sections 2, 3, and 4, the sections 3 and 4 constituting what may be termed the outer and linner heads, respectively. Section 2 is made of suitable pipe, of proper length to be inserted into the boiler-tube to be repaired, so as to extend on opposite sides of the leak, crack, or broken portion therein. The ends of the section 2 are provided with external screw-threads which mesh with corresponding internal screw-threads on the head-sections 3 and 4. The outer head-section 3 is provided with polygonal faces 5 for the application of a Wrench or other similar turnface of said ring.

ing device and has an inwardly-facing shoulder 6 thereon. The inner end of said section 3 is also provided with external screw-threads 7; but between the screw-threads '7 and the shoulder 6 a smooth cylindrical portion 8 is left. Fitting loosely upon the smooth portion 8 of the head-section 3 is a female gland or collar 9, having an annular recess 10 cut in its inner surface for the reception of the male gland 11. Said female gland 9 is also provided with an external inwardly-facing shoulder l2,adapted to engage the outer end of the boiler-tube to be repaired, and also has an inclined end wa1l13. The male gland 11 is provided with internal screw-threads 14 adapted to engage the external screw-threads on the head-section 3, so that when said head-section 3 is turned in one direction or the other said gland 11 will be moved toward or away from the gland 9. An inclined face or wall 15 is formed on the male gland 11, which lies oppositetheinclinedface 13 on thefemale gland and forms, with said inclined face 13, an annular channel for the reception of a packing-ring 16. The said packing-ring 16 may be constructed of rubber, soft metal, or other suitable material, but has around its inner surface au annular V-shaped groove 17, the'said groove being provided for the purpose of enabling the inner portions of the side Walls of saidring to be moved toward each other, so as to force outwardly the outer peripheral sur- To prevent the independent turning of the glands 11 and 9 With respect to each other, a dowel-pin `connection 18 is formed between these two parts, which provides for the longitudinal movement of one with respect to the other, but prevents t-he rotary movement of either independently of the other.

The inner head-section 4 is similar in construction to the outer head-section 3, the same being provided with an external inwardlyfacing shoulder 6a, external screw-threads 7, and a smooth cylindrical exterior surface 8a between the threads 7 a and shoulder 6". Fitting loosely upon the smooth cylindrical portion 8' of the head 4 is a female gland or collar 9', similar in all respects to the gland 9, heretofore referred to, except that no external shoulder 12 is formed thereon. In lieu of said shoulder the gland 9L is provided with ICO an annular groove or channel 19, in which lits the expansible ring 20, designed for the purpose of engaging the inner surface of the boiler-tube to be repaired and adapted to bear at its opposite ends against a shoulder or stop 21 to prevent its movement on said gland 9a. This expansible spring-ring 20 prevents the turning movement of the gland 9a in the boiler-tube. Said gland 9a is further provided with an annular recess 10a and with an inclined fface or wall 13, similar in all respects to the recess 10 and inclined face 13 on the gland 9. The male gland 11, which cooperates with the gland 9a, and the packing-ring 16a, between the inclined faces 15a and 13, are identical in all respects with the gland l1 and packing-ring 16, heretofore referred to. The internal screw-threads 14a on the gland 11 mesh with the external screwthreads 7a on the head 4.

In using my improved device the parts of the same are first assembled, as shown in the drawings, with the opposite ends of the pipe 2 screwed into the adjacent ends of the headsections 3 and 4, with the female gland 9 in contact with the shoulder 6, the male gland 11 partially screwed upon the head 3, and the packing-ring 16 in place between the inclined walls 15 and 13, and with the female gland 9a in contact with the shoulder 6a, the male gland 11a partially screwed up upon the head-section 4, and with the packing-ring 16a in place between the inclined walls 15a and 13a. The glands 11 and 11a are not screwed up upon the head-sections 3 and 4 of the bodysufticiently to compress the packing-rings 16 and 16a. With the parts in the positions just described the device as a whole is inserted into the cracked or leaky boiler-tube to be repaired until the shoulder 12 on the gland 9 comes in contact with the outer end of said tube. A wrench is now applied to the polygonal faces 5 of the head-section 3 and the latter turned to the right. As the pipe 2 and head-section 4 are both rigidly connected to the head-.section 3, both of the former parts will be turned when said section 3 is turned. Rotary movement of the gland 92L in the boiler-tube is prevented by the engagement of the spring-ring 20 with the inner surface of said tube. As the body of the device is turned, therefore, in the manner just described the head-section 4 will be screwed into the gland 11a and the headsection 3 will be screwed into the gland 11. The result of this action is to draw the gland 11a toward the gland 9a, compress the central portion of the packing-ring 16, and force the latter outwardly into peripheral contact with the inner surface of the boiler-tube in which the device is located. This forms a seal between the imperforate or unbroken part of said boiler-tube and the stopper around the outer surface of the packing-ring 16a. As the body of the device is turned the headsection 3 will be screwed into the gland 11 and the latter gland will be forced outwardly `toward the gland 9, so asto compress the central portion of the packing-ring 16 and force the 'same outwardly into peripheral contact 'with the inner surface of the tube. Itwill thus be seen that a joint or seal between the stopper is formed at two points, these two points of course being located on opposite sides of the leak or crack in the boilertube. Turning movement of the glands 11 and 11a with respect to the glands 9 and 9 is prevented by the dowel-pin connection between these parts, turning movement of the gland 9A in the boiler-tube is prevented bythe spring-ring 20, and turning movement of the gland 9 in the boiler-tube is prevented by the frictional engagement of the shoulder 12 with the outer end of the boiler-tube. The force of contact between these two points increases as the turning movement of the body 1 continues by reason of the fact that the joint is iirst formed by the packing-ring' 161L and after that the body as a whole is forced inwardly. When in place, the pipe 2 and a portion of each of the heads 3 and 4 bridge the space in the boiler-tube between the joints formed by the packing-rings 16 and 16a across the crack or leak in the tube.

As these parts are hollow, the passage through the repaired boiler-tube4 is not cut off, but is simply contracted at the point wherel the repair is made.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y 1. A stopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a body having two sets of screw-threads thereon, female glands or collars loosely mounted on said body but held against outward longitudinal movement thereon, male glands cooperating with said female glands and provided with screw-threads meshing with the screw-threads on said body, eXpansible packing-rings between the members of each pair of said glands, and means for preventing the turning movementl of said glands with said body. I

2. A stopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a tubular body having a plurality of shoulders thereon, and two sets of screw-threads adjacent to said shoulders,collars or female glands loosely mounted on said body adapted to bear against said shoulders, and provided with inclined end walls, male glands coperating with said female glands, and provided with screw-threads meshing with the screw-threads on said body, and with inclined walls adjacent to the inclined walls of said female glands, eXpansible packing rings between the inclined walls of each pair of said glands and means for preventing the turning movement of said glands with said body.

3. A stopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a tubular body having a plurality of shoulders thereon, and two sets of screw-threads adjacent to said shoulders,collars or female glands loosely mounted on said body adapted to bear against said shoulders, and provided with intclined end walls, male glands coperating with -ICO IIO

said female glands, and provided with screwthreads meshing with the screwthreads on said body, and with inclined walls adjacent to the inclined walls of said female glands, expansible packing rings between the inclined walls of each pair of said glands, each of said packing rings having an annular groove in theinner surface thereof, and means for preventing the turning movement of said glands with said body.

4. A stopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a tubular body having a plurality of shoulders thereon, and two sets of screw-threads adjacent to said sh0ulders,col1ars or female glands loosely mounted on said body adapted to bear against said shoulders, and provided with inclined end walls, male glands coperating with said female glands, and provided with screw-threads meshing with the screw-threads on said body, and with inclined walls adjacent to the inclined walls of said female glands, eXpansible packing rings between the inclined walls of each pair of said glands, means for preventing` the turning movement of said glands with respect to each other, and means for preventing the turning movement of said glands with said body. l

5. A stopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a tubular body having a plurality of shoulders thereon, and two sets of screw-threads adjacent to said shoulders,collars or female glands loosely mounted on said body adapted to bear against said shoulders, and provided with inclined end walls, male glands cooperating with said female glands, and provided with screw-threads meshing with the screw-threads on said body, and with inclined walls adjacent to the inclined walls of said female glands, expansible packing-rings between the inclined walls of each pair of said glands, a dowel-pin connection between the members of each pair of said glands, and means for preventing one member of each pair of said glands from turning movement with said body. v

6. A stopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a tubular 4body having a plurality of shoulders thereon, and two sets of screw-threads adjacent to said shoulders,collars or female glands loosely mounted on said body adapted to bear against said shoulders, and provided with inclined end Walls, male glands coperating with said female glands, and provided with screw-threads meshing with the screw-threads on said body, and with inclined walls adjacent to the inclined walls of said female glands, eXpansible packing-rings between the inclined walls of each pair of said glands, means for preventing the turning movement of one gland of each pair with'respect to the other, a spring-ring secured to one member,

of one pair of said glands, adapted to engage the inner surface of the tube to be repaired for preventing the turning movement of said gland, and a shoulder on one member of the other pair of said glands, adapted to engage the outer end of the tube to be repaired.

7. Astopper for boiler-tubes, comprising a,

hollow body, made up of a central tubular section and two head-sections in which said tubular section is secured, each of said headsections having shoulders thereon and external screw-threads adjacent to said shoulders, a collar or female gland loosely mounted on each of said head-sections, adapted to engage the shoulder thereon, and provided with an inclined end wall, the outer of said collars or glands being provided with an annular shoulder adapted to engage oneiend of the boilertube to be repaired, and the inner of said collars or glands being provided with an annular peripheral groove, an expansible springring seated in said groove, prevented from turning movement therein and adapted to engage the inner surface of the boiler-tube to be repaired, a male gland provided with internal screw-threads meshing with the screwthreads on each of said head-sections, and further provided with an inclined wall adjacent to the inclined wall on the corresponding female gland, an expansible packing-ring between the inclined walls on each pair of glands, and a dowel-pin connection between each of said male glands and the corresponding female gland.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- IIBSSQS.

CORNELIUS S. CLARK. Witnesses:

JOHN C. BIDDLE, B. F. CAPPs. 

